Rein-guard for vehicle-thills.



No. 673,422. Patented May 7, I901.

J. E. COLEMAN.

REIN GUARWFOB-VEHIGLE THILLS.

(Application filed June 4 1900. (No Model.)

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UITED TATESF P TENT RElN-GUARD FOR VEHICLE-THILLS.

$PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,422, dated May '7, 1901.

Application filed June 4, 1900.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frankfort, in the county of Clinton and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Reinpartshereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a pair of shafts and to the harness of a horse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device detached. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one side of the device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate tapering tubes or sleeves, designed to be constructed of metal or other suitable material, adapted to be arranged on the front ends of a pair of shafts and connected by a strap 3, designed to extend across the front ends of the shafts, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and provided at its center with a short strap 4., whereby the device is connected with the harness of a horse. The strap 3, which extends across the shafts or thills, is secured at one end to the tube or sleeve 2, and its other end is provided with a series of perfo rations and is adapted to be engaged by a buckle 5, which is mounted on the other tube or sleeve 1, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The-adjustable connection between the sleeve or tube 1 and the adjacent end of the strap enables the latter to be shortened and adjusted to fit the Serial No. 19,043. (No model.)

shafts to which the device is to be applied. In order to increase the elfectiveness of the device, the attached end of the strap 3 and the buckle are located at the outer sides of the sleeves, so that the strap extends across the ends of the same and the ends of the thills to avoid any projections which might catch the reins. The short strap 4, which is arranged at right angles to the transverse strap 3, isdesigned to encircle the breast-strap 6 of the harness of a horse, whereby the device is applied to the said harness and is adapted to be carried. by the same. Instead of securing the transverse strap 3 to the harness by the means just described any other suitable fastening device may be employed. The taporing tubes or sleeves removably engage the front ends of the shafts and are adapted to be readily placedthereonand removed therefrom as a horse is hitched to and unhitched from a vehicle, and the taper of the tubes or sleeves enables the latter to engage the shafts with sufficient friction to prevent them from becoming accidentally disengaged.

It will be seen that the device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is designed to be carried by and remain permanently on the harness of a horse, and that the sleeves or tubes which detachably engage the front ends of the thills or shafts are connected by a strap which is adapted to be adjusted to suit the distance between the said shafts or thills.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the' minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is-- A harness provided at its front with a device carried by the said harness and adapted to prevent the lines from becoming caught on the thills and comprising a pair of tapering sleeves adapted to fit on the ends of the thills and capable of being drawn off the same by a horse when unhitchin g it, a buckle attached to the outer end of one of the sleeves at the outer side thereof, the connecting-strap secured at one end to the outer side of the other sleeve and extending across the outer ends of both sleevesand engaging the said buckle, my own I have heretoaflixed my signature in whereby the attachment may be adjusted in the presence of two witnesses.

length, and the central strap secured to. the n connecting-strap at the center thereof and JOSEPH C 5 encircling the breast-strap of the harness, Witnessesz.

substantially as described. I JOSEPH COMES,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as J. N. MCDONALD. 

